Device for cleaning teeth



Feb. l0,O l17959 I J, H, RlE 2,872,929

DEVICE FOR CLEANING TEETH l Filed July 3o. 195e 4r romvf s United States Patent O DEVICE FOR CLEANING TEETH John H. Rice, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application July 30, 1956, Serial No. 601,008

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 132-91) This invention relates to a device for holding dental lloss for use and providing forvtooth polishing and gum massaging in connection therewith. It is desirable to have a simple sanitary device for such use in place of the use of lingers often employed for such purposes.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a simply constructed sanitary device for holding a strand of dental iloss under tension whereby said floss may be conveniently inserted into the mouth for application to the teeth.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device as set forth in the previous object having means for massaging the gums and polishing the teeth.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device formed to carry a tooth cleansing agent and to carry a fabric cover closely fitting the same and in position to be impregnated with said agent, said device being so shaped that said cover can be reciprocated between the teeth to clean the same and massage the gums.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an integral device having an elongated handle portion, an intermediate U-shaped portion and a head portion having its sides tapering substantially to a thin edge, said headi portion being adapted to have -a tooth cleansing agent disposed therein, a tooth cleaning andpolishing member adapted to fit over said head portion and a strand of dental floss having one end secured to said last mentioned member and extending across said U- shaped portion, and means on said handle portion for broken away and a portion thereof shown in dotted line;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of applicants device;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of applicants device; and

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of a portion of applicants device.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 of the drawing, applicants tooth cleaning device is shown comprising an elongated handle portion 10a, an intermediate `portion 10b and a head portion 10c. Applicants device may be formed of various suitable materials, such as anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or of various suitable plastic or rubber materials. The structure of applicants device may be variously formed, one embodiment of which is here illustrated.

Said handle portion 10a is here illustrated as being of 2,872,929 Patented Feb.- 10, 1959 lice relatively small transverse dimension and preferably may be of a substantially elliptical form in vertical cross section. Said handle portion 10a has a portion of reduced transverse dimension adjacent Said portion 10b forming a recessed side 10a1. Formed on said side 10a1 is member 11 adapted to hold secure an end portion of dental floss, and said member 11 is here shown as having an outer at and an inner convex side and thus forming a button.

Said intermediate portion 10b is of reduced vertical dimension having a base portion 10b1 here indicated as being substantially rectangular in vertical cross section. Extending upwardly from said portion 10b1 are quite widely spaced vertical wall portions 10b2 and 10b3.v Thus it is seen that as here illustrated said intermediate portionlOb is substantially U-shaped in form. The upper end portion 10b4 of said wall 10b3 extends inwardly for a short distance to form an overhanging lip portion 10155. Extending at an angle through said end portion 10b4 and partially through said lip portion 10355 is a passage 10b6.

Said head portion 10c is shown as being of generalV wedge shape and having its sides tapering substantially to a line or fine edge 10c1. Said portion 10c has a lip 1002 formed at its inner open end, and formed in said lip portionis a groove 10c3.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, there is shown a passage or open-sided cavity 10c4 extending transversely substantially centrally through said portion 10c.A Said passage is irregularly formed having an upper concave wall surface and a lower wall surface of quite deep convex curvature, as seen in the View shown in Fig.` 5. Passage 10c4 thus forms a cavity or pocket in head portion 10c. p Said passage is formed whereby when a tooth cleansing agent is deposited therein it may be readily discharged therefrom audit is easily cleaned without the danger of having any material depositedtherein difficult to remove.

With reference to Figs. 6 and '7, a tooth cleansing and gum massaging member 13 is shown. This member may be formed of variously textured material to secure the desired result. The texture of said material will be selected in accordance with the degree of massaging effect on the gums and polishing eifect on the teeth that is desired. As here indicated, said material is a finely woven cotton material. Said member 13 will be shaped to tit over said portion 10c and is here made very simply by having it stitched along its smaller end and one side 13a thereof. A strand of dental floss 15 will have one end secured preferably to the seamed side of said member 13. It may be secured in the process of stitching said side, or as indicated in Fig. 7, it may be secured by having its end disposed through the outer end of said stitched side and having a small knot 15a formed to hold it. Said strand of dental floss will be of a length to permit it to extend across said portion 10b. Said strand passes upwardly and forwardly through passage 10b6, then downwardly around lip 10b5 and then rearwardly where it is wrapped around and wedged between member 11 and the side 10a1.

ln operation, a tooth cleansing agent, which may be formed as a soluble cartridge or a capsule, will be positioned in said passage 10c4. Said member 13 will be placed over said head portion 10c and said dental oss l5 will pass through said groove 10c3 and extend across the open side of said portion 10b. It has been found in practice that it is adequate to just wind said free end of said oss about said member 11 a few times and wedge it in place. Applicants device will then be taken in hand by the user and the member 13 will be moistened. The dental oss will be placed between and reciprocated between the teeth of the user as it is customarily used. Applicants device is relatively small in size and is easily asraoao placed in the mouth of the user to conveniently reach therein so that said dental iloss may be easily and conveniently disposed between all of the teeth.

As said member 13 is moistened, said Vmoisture, will disintegrate the capsule or cartridge covering of said tooth cleansing agent and the ingredients therein will impregnate said member 13. Thus in connection with the use of the dental oss said member 13 impregnated with said tooth cleansing agent may be conveniently used to massage the gums and polish the surfaces of the teeth. The rather sharpened outer end 1Gc1 of said member 10c is formed to conveniently reach into the area between adjacent teeth so that said tooth cleansing7 agent may be effectively placed therebetween and rubbed by a reciprocating motion of said end so that the teeth will be quite thoroughly polished.` If desired of course, applicants device may be used without the addition of a cleansing agent and said member 13 may be used for its massaging effect on the gums. A number or package of lsaid cover members 13 can be furnished with applicants device as well as a supply of capsules forming said tooth cleansing agent. Said cover members and capsules may be furnished separately commercially.

Thus it is seen that l have provided a simply constructed sanitary tooth cleaning device for the application of dental tioss and a massaging activity to the gums, and if desired, a polishing eiect to the teeth of the user by means of a single instrument.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the type described comprising an elongated handle portion substantially elliptical in vertical cross section, a substantially U-shaped intermediate portion and a head portion tapering somewhat in vertical dimension and having its sides tapering substantially to an edge, said head portion having a grooved upper inner end portion and said head portion having a passage extending transversely therethrough for receiving a tooth cleansing agent therein, said handle portion having a lip formed at its upper innerend portion extending somewhat over said intermediate portion, said last mentioned inner end portion and said lip portion having an aperture inclined upwardly therethrough, said handle having a portion of reduced transverse dimension adjacent said intermediate portion, a tooth polishing member formed to t over said head portion, a strand of dental floss extending across said intermediate portion having one end secured to said last mentioned member and to be disposed in said groove and having its other end disposed through said aperture and to extend to said reduced handle portion, and a button-like member formed on said reduced handle portion for having said dental oss secured thereabout.

2. A device of the type described comprising a member having an elongated handle portion, and a rather dat head portion at the end opposite said handle portion, said head tapering substantially to an edge and a sacklike cover of fabric material fitting over said head, and means for holding said cover in place, said head portion and cover being formed to move between the teeth of the user to cleanse said teeth and massage the gums.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said head portion having a cavity therein open at the sides thereof and adapted to receive a tooth cleansing agent.

4. A device of the type described comprising a member having an elongated handle portion, and a wedgeshaped head portion, a flexible sack-like cover for said head, and means for holding said cover in place, said head and cover being formed to be moved between the teeth of the user for frictionally cleansing said teeth and massaging the gums.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

